Fresh from collecting Celtic’s Academy Player of the Year at Sunday’s award ceremony, Aidan Nesbitt is certainly one of Scottish football’s rising talents.

The 19-year-old joined Partick Thistle on loan for the remainder of the season in February, after starring for Celtic’s SPFL Development League winning side.

Having joined the Parkhead side aged just eight, the youngster has risen through the ranks - winning and scoring in the U17s Glasgow Cup and U20s Youth Cup in consecutive seasons.

Nesbitt grabbed his first-ever hat-trick in the latter fixture as they swept Rangers aside, winning 5-2 at Hampden this time last year.

Labelled by outgoing Celtic boss Ronny Deila as one of the hottest prospects in European football, it was the Norwegian who gave Nesbitt his first team bow in last September’s Scottish League Cup match against Raith Rovers.

Nesbitt cites Deila as a major influence on his progress this far, with the attacking midfielder being rewarded with a contract that will see him with the Scottish champions until 2019.

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Not only has Nesbitt been a revelation domestically, he has also shone in Celtic’s UEFA Youth League campaign. Scoring a hat-trick in their 5-0 win over HJK Helsinki, with his first goal being selected as one of the 10 best goals scored in the competition.

Nesbitt, who excels and is comfortable in the No.10 role, faces stiff competition for that position at Celtic with first-team names such Patrick Roberts, Stuart Armstrong, Gary Mackay Steven, Stefan Johansen, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic all ahead of the Johnstone-based youngster in the pecking order.

Despite playing in the midfield three - both in Celtic’s U20 and Thistle’s top side - Nesbitt has been in amongst the goals already this season.

Prior to his loan move to Firhill, he has netted nine times for the Celtic side who are on course to finish the entire 32-game season undefeated.

Nesbitt moved to thistle on loan in January (Image: SNS Group)

With an eye for a pass and a hunger to entertain, Nesbitt’s ability and desire to penetrate opposition defences is particularly impressive.

Having mainly played Development League football, there is a certain element of naivety and rawness about him that saw him give away a penalty and later subbed in last month’s Premiership match against Motherwell.

It was an error that he has learned from, making his first start for the Jags in last month’s defeat to Dundee.

With the likes of Kristoffer Ajer - said to be Celtic’s 17th midfielder - still to arrive at the club, the possibility of extending Nesbitt’s stay at Firhill has been widely discussed.

Manchester City talent Roberts has signed an 18-month loan deal with Celtic, and Nesbitt could do a lot worse than continue his development with a higher chance of regular football with the Jags.